Moderator in new plea for Precious Mhango

The Moderator of the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly will tomorrow make another impassioned plea to keep Precious and Florence Mhango in Scotland.

Precious with her mum, Florence

Right Reverend John Christie will address over 2,000 Church of Scotland Guild members at their annual meeting in Dundee’s Caird Hall.

The Moderator will base his speech on the Guild’s key theme for the 2010-11 session, “called to love mercy”.

And he voiced his bitter disappointment at Home Secretary Theresa May, after she refused to intervene in the Mhango’s case following a joint letter from himself, Alex Salmond and Cardinal Keith O’Brien: “There are certainly for the three of us, and many others, good reasons for them to be allowed to stay in Scotland.

“This is an opportunity for compassionate love and it would be disappointing, to say the least, if the they are deported.

“The New Testament is full of examples between the tension of the law, and grace and compassion. In these set of exceptional circumstances I believe grace and compassion should prevail.”

After Florence left her violent and abusive husband, the pair no longer had the right to stay in the UK.

Precious, 10, and her mother lost an immigration appeal at the High Court in London and were ordered to return to Malawi in July.

The family, who were staying in Cranhill in Glasgow, hope to appeal against the deportation ruling, but could now be removed at any time.

It is hoped that the Guild, staunch campaigners against injustices such as human trafficking and domestic abuse, will add their support to the battle to keep the two Malawian asylum seekers in Scotland.

National convener Helen-May Bayne is expected to announce that Guild members raised almost £1 million last year, including funds for congregations and work outwith the Church.

Glasgow Churches Together works closely with denominations, congregations and local ecumenical groups within the City of Glasgow and in adjoining areas within the Church of Scotland Presbytery of Glasgow and/or the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Glasgow.